
Lesson 2, for October 12, 1940
A Promise Fulfilled; The Holy Spirit Given
SCRIPTURE: Acts 2:1-21.
MEMORY VERSE: "It shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name
of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 2:21.
STUDY HELPS: "The Acts of the Apostles," pp. 35-41, 47-56; "Testimonies,"
vol. 7, pp. 31-33; "The Great Controversy," pp. 611, 612 (new ed., pp. 690, 691) ; "The
Ministry of the Spirit " (Thompson), pp. 42-67.
PLACES: Jerusalem; an upper room in a house in the city; the temple.
PERSONS: The apostles, Peter specially mentioned; the multitude, composed of
many from lands other than Palestine.
Setting of the Lesson
After Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples returned to Jerusalem.
"The people' looked on them, expecting to see on their faces expressions of
sorrow, confusion, and defeat; but they saw there gladness and triumph.
. . . They had seen the risen Saviour, and the words of His parting promise
echoed constantly in their
ears."—"The Acts of the Apostles,"
p. 35.
Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
1.
How was the unity of the believers on the day of Pentecost in-
dicated? Acts 2:1.
NOTE.—From Acts 1:12-15 we learn that the company that came together
"with one accord" was one hundred twenty in all—apostles and laymen, men
and women. They were actuated by one desire, one purpose. It was "like
many voices of differing qualities, singing different parts, united in one
heavenly anthem."
2.
What had they been doing? Luke 24:51-53.
NOTE.—"In obedience to Christ's command, they waited in Jerusalem for
the promise of the Father,—the outpouring of the Spirit. They did not wait
in idleness. The record says that they were 'continually in the temple, praising
and blessing God.' They also met together to present their requests to the
Father in the name of Jesus. . . .
"As the disciples waited for the fulfillment of the promise, they humbled
their hearts in true repentance. . . . Putting away all differences, all
desire for the supremacy, they came close together in Christian fellowship."—
"The Acts of the Apostles,"
pp. 35-37.
For ten days the disciples prayed, confessing their sins, making every
wrong right, and seeking for the promised blessing. The feast of the harvest
was celebrated each year. It occurred on the fiftieth day from the offering of
the first fruits. The first fruits were offered on the second day of the feast
of unleavened bread, and inasmuch as the feast of the harvest occurred
fifty days later, it was called the day of Pentecost, as Pentecost means
"fiftieth." The resurrection of Jesus took place on the day the first fruits
were offered. Pentecost therefore came fifty days (inclusive) from the resur-
rection of Jesus, and ten days after His ascension. (See Lev. 23:9-16; Deut.
16:9, 10.)
3.
What suddenly took place? Acts 2:2, 3.
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